Isiah Thomas has been a vocal critic of Michael Jordan, as the two rivals share a lot of history from the 80s and 90s basketball era. The 2-time NBA champion remains active in the NBA world through several podcast panels and discussions on comparisons between eras. He was recently featured in one such conversation after Kevin Durant surpassed Michael Jordan for fifth place on the all-time scoring list. However, his take on the matter was criticized by one of his close friends, Kendrick Perkins.
Thomas believed that if the peak Chicago Bulls of the 80s and 90s eras, along with Scottie Pippen and Tony Kukoc in the post, could replace MJ with KD, they would still have won six championships. However, Perkins found Thomas’ statement “disrespectful” to the legacy of the 6-time NBA champion and called the former point guard out.
When Thomas’ statement was questioned during the Road Trippin podcast, Perkins was asked about his thoughts on it. He said:
“I respect Isiah Thomas, man, I talk to him all the time, great friend of mine, but I’m just disagreeing with him on this basketball take. He’s lost his damn mind. Michael Jordan has never come out on record and say he’s not a leader. Michael Jordan led the pack, Michael Jordan was first in sprints. Michael Jordan took pride in playing 80+ games, competing them on both ends of the floor. Michael Jordan didn’t run from situations, people run to him.”
However, Isiah Thomas was never the one to back down. He quickly took to the comment section and explained his stance in a detailed message for Perkins. He explained that all the teams that the Bulls beat in that era had an average guard size of 6-foot-4, probably.
However, with a 6-foot-11 Durant in the mid-post and Pippen and Kukoc, who were both above 6-foot-10, playing the “triangle offense,” it would have been difficult for any team to contain them. Thomas also admitted that even the Pistons, who were notorious for playing physical defense in the paint, could not stop a peak Durant. He wrote:
“I suppose your fallback is a personal playful attack rather than critiquing the question. Then I respectfully say you have lost your damn mind if you believe Kevin Durant would not have dominated those series, shooting 25-plus times a night. I played and beat my basketball opponent more than he beat me. My perspective is different from that of those who worship and believe.”
Isiah Thomas has caught the attention several times for being critical of Air Jordan’s godly abilities on the court. The saga between the two rivals reignited after Jordan’s Netflix documentary ‘The Last Dance,’ in which MJ took shots at Thomas and allegedly called him an “a**hole” for his post-game antics.
Kevin Durant passes Michael Jordan for fifth all-time leading scorer
Kevin Durant is playing in his 19th season in the league, and he has already registered his name among the best in the league. On March 21, he surpassed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list (32,292 points) with a three-pointer in the Houston Rockets’ game against the Miami Heat.
The 2-time NBA champion is now around 1000 points behind Kobe Bryant’s record (33,643). When he was asked about the achievement after the game, he said:
“Got more to go.”
While it’s up to fans and analysts to decide the authenticity behind Zeke’s comments about Kevin Durant, his impact on the sport can not be downplayed. The Olympic gold medalist is looking for another title in his career with a young Rockets squad this season. They have already clinched a playoff berth and look forward to going deep.
READ MORE: Michael Jordan vs LeBron James: Who Has the Better Record in NBA Playoffs and Finals?
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